Short Abstract:

Unwriting with art and activism the colonial narratives imposed on the Indigenous Sámi culture involves reclaiming their oral traditions, knowledge of the land, and ancestral practices, allowing their stories and identities to flourish beyond the boundaries of imposed histories.

Long Abstract:

This panel seeks to explore effective unwriting practices in the dynamic and evolving cultural landscape of the Sámi, the Indigenous peoples of Sápmi, whose traditional lands stretch across northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. The Sámi have long maintained a rich cultural heritage characterized by oral traditions, reindeer herding, duodji (handicrafts), yoik (traditional singing), and a deep connection to their natural environment. However, the past century has also seen significant transformations driven by external pressures such as modernization, climate change, state policies, and global Indigenous movements. These changes have prompted Sámi communities to develop new cultural expressions and forms of resilience.

The panel will bring together ethnologists, folklorists, anthropologists, and Sámi scholars to discuss the role tradition in contemporary Sámi cultural developments. It will consider how traditional knowledge systems are being reinterpreted in modern contexts, how Sámi identity is expressed in urban and transnational spaces, and the role of digital platforms in safeguarding and transforming Sámi arts. The panel will also address critical issues reflected in their arts related to land rights, climate justice, and cultural sovereignty in light of global environmental challenges.

This Panel has so far received 2 paper proposal(s).
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